Most companies have traditionally required employees to work in the office. However, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted regular operating procedures, and workers could not do their jobs in an enclosed space for hours. This led to the widespread adoption of remote work, where people work from home while using instant messaging and video conference platforms to keep in touch.
When the pandemic ended, some companies allowed their employees to keep working remotely because they had been productive while working from home. This style of working also affected recruitment in the US labor market, as many skilled workers preferred to work from home and exclusively applied for job positions that permitted that.
Companies throughout the country had to adapt to this change to attract top talent, thereby making remote work a staple in the American job market. This has led US business owners and entrepreneurs to question which is better for companies, in-person or a remote workforce. This article will explore that question. Both styles of working have their advantages in the categories we will explore below:
Cost-Effectiveness
A remote workforce helps companies save money by employing top talent from overseas and having them work from home in their country. These employees often demand lower salaries than US citizens and permanent residents. Meanwhile, hiring strictly in-person employees will require companies to pay a competitive US salary for highly skilled workers with benefits and sometimes cover relocation costs if they live far away.
Companies that have a robust in-person workforce may have branches in different states and would require employees to regularly fly to and from their branches. These business trips will require corporate hotel bookings which companies will have to add to their operating expenses. The ability to hire a remote workforce reduces the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs. It allows them to start a business without investing millions of dollars into leases for office buildings.
Productivity
Productivity is an essential component of any company’s growth and having an in-person workforce allows managers to monitor the activities of employees to ensure they are working during office hours. Meanwhile, it is significantly more difficult to monitor remote workers. It is recommended to give remote workers clear deadlines on the tasks assigned to them and measure their productivity by having them deliver quality results on or before their deadlines pass.
During in-person work, managers can keep track of the real-time progress on each task and make necessary adjustments. On the other hand, they mostly have to wait till their remote employees turn in their work before they can assess and make recommendations for improvement. This makes in-person work better for productivity.
Endnote
Companies need employees to conduct their operations and many skilled workers now prefer to work remotely. Business owners have to decide whether to placate their demands or stick to the tried and true in-person workforce. Both forms of employment have their benefits as discussed above. Companies that value productivity above all should favor in-person work, while those that prioritize cost savings and have a modest budget should embrace remote work.
